OK, I've been trying all weekend and I can't get this thing in. From the top on the passenger's side, the thing hits the edge of the valve covers, the black box that the A/C connects to near the firewall and the hard coolant line running down along the frame. I unbolted the coolant line brackets, but can't get enough clearance to jam the headers down.

I tried to jack up the motor, but the motor wouldn't lift. I unbolted the engine mount through-bolt and put a block under the oil pan and started jacking. The whole car went with it, and when the wheels lifted of the ramps, I backed off and let it back down. Do I need to unbolt the tranny for this? I've got a T-56, poly tranny mount and Spohn T-56 crossmember/TA.

What am I doing wrong?

 

pull out the bolt on the passenger side

loosen, but do not remove, the drivers side bolt.

loosen, but do not remove the trans mount bolt.


place the board square across the bottom of the oil pan ( 8" wide board prefered for the greater surface area)

put the jack offset to the passenger side... so taht the edge of the jack is even with the edge of the oil pan stump.


slowly raise it.. it should lift a good 3-4" as measured from the motor mount to the inside of the cup on the motor.



dont work on it like this.. its not safe... put a piece of wood or steel between the motor mount and engine. this is your "saftey" or "jackstand" so be sure to set somthing in there that can take a falling motor..

if you have centerbolt valve covers, sometimes they JUST BEARLY wont clear the lip... just remove the cover and it'll slip in. then put the cover back on....

since you have it safely secured and tilted, stick your arm in there under the header and you'll find it easy to tighten all the bolts with a ratchet... much easier then when its in the mounts.

 

i just pulled my engine up and tilted it side to side for each header. the tranny has 2 nubs that stick out and sit into the engine block. i had to pull a few times (had it hoisted with a chain) to loosen it up. makesure if you jack the motor to unbolt the tranny mount and support it close to the bellhousing. i broke my tranny mount by pulling the motor up, then it fell because it wasnt supported id lift the engine with a chain rather then jack it by the oil pan. loosen 2 manifold gaskets, connect chain, tighten bolts, hoist away